Despite it only being preseason and everything we could point out wrong with the last few games, these Cowboys are going places. With or without expectations from the newspapers, magazines and sports television, this team controls its own destiny.

Driving home Friday night, I was blasting the local classic rock station and singing my little heart out. I’m one of those people who listen to the lyrics and find meaning in music. I always find it interesting that music can be interpreted so many different ways.

Take one of the songs I heard last night, “Shooting Star” by Bad Company. Now I know that song is about a man who had a dream to be a rock star, and his dream comes true and in the end his life is taken in the same way as many famous musicians.

But the chorus alone could easily be related to our beloved Cowboys, and that’s how I chose to interpret it.

Here’s my latest graphic…

“Don’t you know that you are a shooting star
And all the world will love you just as long as you are.”
~ Bad Company

Last week, I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of the soon to be released “Dallas Cowboys: 50 Years Of Football” by Sports Illustrated.

Now I’ve read my fair share of books on the Dallas Cowboys over the years, but this is the first one that I immediately cherished as a collectors item. Believe me when I tell you, that once you get this fine book in your hands, you’ll find it very difficult to put down, and I’m not kidding you either.

The book is loaded with some of the most sensational anecdotes and articles about the Cowboys as brought to you be the some of the best sports writers in the country.

The photography is stunning and the book is loaded with a vast collection of unforgettable shots that capture the entire history of this historic franchise.

Here is some additional information from the publisher:

Sports Illustrated will release ‘The Dallas Cowboys: 50 Years Of Football’ on August 24th.

The rich heritage of the Cowboys is captured in this extraordinary collection of stories by the finest sports writers in the world, including Peter King, Tim Layden and Dan Jenkins, a spectacular selection of images from the best photo archive in sports, and a mind-boggling array of stats, anecdotes and memorabilia. It is the ultimate celebration of the Dallas Cowboys.

Sports Illustrated The Dallas Cowboys: 50 Years Of Football gives fans an insider look from Sports Illustrated senior writer, Peter King, whose in depth access to “America’s Team” includes a three-city scouting trip with Jimmy Johnson to a training camp sit down interview with Tony Romo to discuss his personal life in the off-season.

From the teams humble beginnings to emerging in to a franchise for which winning, and winning it all was expected. Eight Super Bowl appearances, five Super Bowl victories and the glory and the glamour that has surrounded this team. Sports Illustrated The Dallas Cowboys: 50 Years Of Football revisits the names that leap out of NFL history: Dandy Don Meredith, Bullet Bob Hayes, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, the lineage of head coaches is a Who’s Who list – Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Bill Parcells and the Hall of Famers who could fill their own wing – from Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin.

As you can see, this is an incredible book that any Cowboys fan would be proud to own.

Hopefully, all of you have already registered for our contest as we are giving away 25 free copies of these stunning hard covered books. You can still register by going here.

No great football team is complete without a defensive star. DeMarcus Ware has been a strong force since 2005 and will be for years to come. Continuously challenging for the league lead in sacks, DeMarcus is a major factor to the Cowboys success. A strong leader and a family man the Pro Bowl linebacker puts fear into the eyes of every quarterback who faces him. Just ask Eli Manning… he knows the power of the Ware-wolf oh too well.

It does not matter how many times you say it, nor does it matter if they believe it or not. The Cowboy “HATERS” out there are not going to let up for any reason. It is only preseason but all I am hearing is: “You lost to the RAIDERS??” I mean it’s the Raiders, and you LOST?? How bad do you have to be to lose to the Raiders? Living in Houston, I get the Texans fans that love to hate the Cowboys even more. So they tell me, Your “Cowgirls” lost to the raiders. I mention their loss and they just claim its preseason??? Oh OK good enough for them but not for us. HA HA. Or I hear, 0-2 already, Its Romo (as they put it the homo), he sucks he is no good. He is not good enough to win it all. Of course it’s all I have been hearing for a few years now. But, with all the haters comes the fans. And as Dallas fans, we stick together. No matter what is said no matter what is wrote about them, no matter what RECORD THEY HAVE IN PRESEASON. We all know our Boys will be fine.

The first couple of games this year I have noticed, our first team has pretty much drove down the field the way we all knew they could. Romo has been solid. 2 starts over 50 yards in both starts in just a couple of series. Our defense has really proven a lot to me as well looking very solid in the pass and run. Every once in a while I am catching a glimpse of a solid player in our second and third string defense. We had a pick six in the Hall of Fame game toward the end of the game. All in all I am pleased with what I am seeing so far.

With just 3 more pre-season games to go, I say bring on the haters. Let the fun begin, let’s talk trash let’s get our game faces on let’s just go out and have some fun because FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!!!!!!! I have come to the conclusion there is no fine line. You either love the Cowboys, or you love to HATE the cowboys. And for those that love to hate them I just feel bad for you because at the end of this season, when our Boys are playing the very first Super Bowl at home in NFL history, just open your ears because all your going to hear from us is,

HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://lonestarstruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/thoughts4.png180397Contributing Authorhttp://lonestarstruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lonestarstruck.pngContributing Author2010-08-20 08:30:212010-08-20 08:30:21Haters Are In Full Effect Even In Pre-Season

He was told he was too slow for the NFL and would not be able to make it. He went undrafted in 1981 coming out of Grambling State University. His dream then became a reality when his hometown team signed him as undrafted free agent. Everson walls went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL and made an immediate impact from the time he stepped onto the field in 1981 for the Dallas Cowboys.

Everson Walls was born on December 28, 1959 in Dallas, Texas. He was raised by his mother in north Dallas just two miles from the Cowboys practice facility. Walls attended Lloyd V. Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. He didn’t start playing football until his senior year and ended up leading the division in interceptions.

After graduating high school in 1977, Everson Walls enrolled at Grambling State University. He was invited to training camp by an assistant football coach and impressed the legendary head coach of Grambling, Eddie Robinson. Walls impressed Robinson so much that he received a full football scholarship and did not disappoint. Some of Walls accomplishments while playing at Grambling were being selected to the Kodak 1AA All-American team, the Black College All-American team and during his senior season he led the nation in interceptions. Walls gives credit to coach Eddie Robinson for helping him mature as a human being.

In the spring of 1981 Everson Walls attended Cowboys training camp as a free agent. He was signed as a free agent and just like at Grambling State, he did not disappoint. In 1981, Walls led the NFL in interceptions with 11 as well as earning a Pro Bowl invitation as he helped lead the Cowboys to the NFC Championship game against the 49ers. Walls had seven tackles, three deflected passes, one fumble recovery and two interceptions in the game. But even though he a great game for the Cowboys, it would be one play that Walls would have his name attached to for the rest of his career. That play would be “The Catch” by Dwight Clark as Walls was covering him that has gone down in NFL history. The play also made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Everson Walls never let the Dwight Clark play affect his play on the field. He went on to lead the NFL in interceptions again with seven in the strike shortened 1982 season, as well as nine in 1985. He also earned three more Pro Bowl honors in 1982, 1983 and 1985. He was named first team All-Pro in 1983 and second team All-Pro in 1982 and 1985. In 1986 Walls was the youngest player named to the Cowboys 25th Anniversary Team and in 1987 was named Cowboys Man of the Year. Walls was part of the Cowboys secondary led by cornerback Dennis Thurman and they became known as Thurman’s Thieves. Others who made up that group were Ron Fellows, Michael Downs, Bill Bates, Ricky Easmon, Victor Scott, and Dextor Clinkscale.

After playing for the Cowboys from 1981 to 1989, Walls then signed with the NY Giants in 1990. Playing safety for the first time in his career, Walls led the Giants with six interceptions. The Giants posted a 13-3 record in 1990 and went on to beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. Once again Everson Walls would make the cover of Sports Illustrated, but this time as a world champion.

The Cleveland Browns would be where Everson Walls finished his NFL career. He played for the Browns during the 1992 and 1993 seasons before retiring. With Walls leaving the NFL, he also left behind some records. He is the only player to lead the NFL in interceptions three different times. He also led the Cowboys in interceptions a record five times. He holds the record for Pro Bowl interceptions with four. Walls is 10th all-time on the career interception list with 57. How does Walls match up to other Hall of Fame defensive players when it comes to interceptions?

Mel Renfro, 52

Willie Brown, 54

Darrell Green, 54

Lem Barney, 56

Mel Blount, 57

Some other honors given to Everson Walls after retiring in 1993 were being named to the All-Time Cowboys Team. Being named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1980’s and in 1998 Walls was elected to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

As a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Everson Walls became close friends with running back Ron Springs. That friendship grew as both moved on with their NFL careers and onto life after football. In 2006 as Springs was suffering through diabetes and needing a kidney transplant, it was Walls who stepped up and offered one of his kidneys to Springs after finding out he was a match. In March of 2007, the surgery was done successfully giving Springs a new lease on life. Walls wrote a book titled “A Gift for Ron”, which tells of his experiences on and off the field and his decision to help Ron Springs. Walls and Springs have also started a foundation called “Gift For Life Foundation”. The site is to spread awareness about organ donation. You can find more information here. www.giftforlifefoundation.org

Everson Walls and his wife Shreill Walls have two children and still reside in the Dallas area.

Despite Everson Walls outstanding career which includes multiple honors and records, he still remains on the outside of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Walls was a preliminary nominee for the Class of 2006, but has not reached the list for semi finalists. Is it because of Dwight Clarks catch in the 1981 NFC Championship game that is keeping Everson Walls out of the Hall of Fame? I would hope not because his NFL career speaks for itself. As a fan growing up watching Walls play I would like to think someday soon he will get serious consideration for what he truly deserves, which is a place in Canton, Ohio next to the other greats of the NFL.

I came across a link to a story by Charean Williams of the Star-Ledger who takes a look at the relationship between the fans and wide receiver Roy Williams, a relationship that never really got off on the right foot.

Williams begins by suggesting that Roy Williams can’t do anything right in the eyes of most Dallas Cowboys fans. He can’t run the right route. He can’t catch the tough pass. He can’t get on the same page with Tony Romo. He drops too many balls.

But is this the result of the fans being unfairly judgmental, or just the product of less than average performance by a receiver who arrived with very high expectations?

Maybe owner Jerry Jones is partly to blame.

The Cowboys gave up three draft picks, including first- and third-rounders, to the Detroit Lions at the 2008 trade deadline. They signed him to a five-year extension worth $45 million, with $20 million guaranteed. Whenever a team gives up that much guaranteed money, that many team resources, that many high draft picks, and makes that long of a commitment on any player, the player’s overall performance must be on the same level as what was sacrificed to get him.

Roy Williams is the third highest paid player on the team, and yet it would be hard to include him among the Cowboy’s top 15 most valuable players. This isn’t simply a perception or my opinion, it speaks to the reality of the situation.

Cowboys Receivers Coach, Ray Sherman, understands it as well:

“When you give up that much, you’re expected to come in and be this superstar. Then, it didn’t happen. That’s why you come in, keep your mouth shut and just work and let everything else take care of itself. When you go out and perform at a high level, make plays, then you win people over.”

I couldn’t have said it any better.

There’s an old saying in baseball that works just as well in football, “you’re only as good as your last five games.”

If Roy Williams wants to win the praise and admiration of Cowboys fans, it’s well within his power to make it happen.

When the season begins in September, go out there and take our breaths away. Go out there and give it your all. Go out there and make things happen.

For nearly two years you’ve been telling us how great a receiver you are. All we are saying is, prove it. If you can do that, not only will you win the fans back, but you may even get a Super Bowl ring out of it.

When you take the field on September 12th against the Washington Redskins, unleash hell.

Talk about hot, Jason Witten has only missed one game in seven years. Where would the Cowboys be without the warrior? A great guy on the field as well as off, Jason is a leader and a role model in a league where the bad guys seem to get most of the attention. He doesn’t care, he does what he’s done since being drafted back in 2003, blocking, catching, leading and whatever else he can do to make this team win.

What’s a star quarterback without his number one man? Miles Austin has earned himself a starting position on the team as well as in our hearts. I dare you to try to find a Cowboys fan who doesn’t love Miles… well except maybe Roy Williams mother (just kidding!).

When the subject of the Dallas Cowboys is brought up people either love them or hate them. There is no in between when it comes to the Cowboys. The same can be said about Danny White. I became a fan of the Cowboys in the late 1970s when Roger Staubach’s Hall of Fame career was coming to an end. So growing up a Cowboys fan in the 1980s the quarterback I knew was Danny White and I quickly became a fan of his. I loved the way he played the game and I loved the way he led the Cowboys offense. But there are people who don’t think of Danny White as a great quarterback or even a good quarterback. They simply know him as the player who could not win the big game for the Cowboys and loser of three straight NFC Championship games. Danny White does not get the credit he deserves for his career with the Cowboys for the simple reason that he followed a legend in Staubach.

Wilford Daniel White was born on February 9, 1952 in Mesa Arizona. He graduated from Mesa Westwood High School and then moved on to Arizona State University where he played quarterback and was also the team’s punter. In 1973 Danny White was an All-American with the Sun Devils. For his college career White threw for 6,717 yards, 64 TDs and 42 INTs. White was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the State of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and the Arizona State University Hall of Fame. In 2000 Danny White was named Arizona Athlete of the Century by the Arizona Republic.

Danny White was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 1974 NFL Draft. White decided to give the World Football League (WFL) a try and played there in 1974 and 1975 for the Memphis Southmen.

In 1976 Danny White joined the Dallas Cowboys. He served primarily as Roger Staubach’s backup and also as the Cowboys punter. He would remain the Cowboys punter through the 1983 season. White was also a member of the Cowboys Super Bowl XII Championship team in 1977. Roger Staubach announced his retirement after the 1979 season and it opened the door for Danny White to become the starter.

In 1980 Danny White became the starter for the Cowboys and led them to a 12-4 record, but the Cowboys came in second place to the Philadelphia Eagles. White also broke the Cowboys single season touchdown record by throwing 29 touchdown passes in 1980.

Danny White led the Cowboys to a Wildcard playoff win against the Rams, 34-13. In the second round playoff game in Atlanta, White led a Staubach like comeback and beat the Falcons 30-27. With the Cowboys losing 27-17 with time running out, it was White who led the Cowboys to two touchdowns and won the game. The game was voted one of the top ten Cowboys games of all time by the fans. In the NFC Championship game the Eagles put an end to the Cowboys Super Bowl dreams as they won easily, 20-7. No fault should go to Danny White for the loss to the Eagles. The Eagles defense simply shutdown everything the Cowboys attempted to do on offense. Also, the Cowboys defense gave up 194 rushing yards to Wilbert Montgomery to go along with his 42 yard touchdown run.

Danny White once again led the Cowboys back to the NFC Championship game in 1981. In one of the most famous Championship games ever played, the Cowboys lost to the 49ers 28-27. Again, no blame should be placed on Danny White as he played an incredible game as he led the Cowboys to a 27-21 lead with a little more than four minutes to play.

In a strike shortened 1982 season White led the Cowboys to a 6-3 record and earned his only Pro Bowl honor. He also led the Cowboys back to the NFC Championship game for the third straight season. This time the Cowboys traveled to Washington where they would once again lose. White would not have the chance to finish the game as Dexter Manley came free through the middle of the line and planted White into the RFK Stadium grass. White suffered a concussion and was lost for the entire second half. The Redskins went on to beat the Cowboys 31-17.

With White being knocked out of the 1982 Championship game, it opened the door for backup quarterback Gary Hogeboom to play. Hogeboom threw two touchdown passes against the Redskins, but it was his second of two interceptions in the fourth quarter that sealed the Cowboys fate. There were stories about how White might be replaced as the starting quarterback by Hogeboom, but White remained the starter for the 1983 season. Danny White led the Cowboys to another 12-4 record in 1983, but lost to the Rams in the Wildcard round at home.

Tom Landry made the difficult decision in 1984 to replace Danny White as the Cowboys starter and handed the job to Gary Hogeboom. The Cowboys started 4-1, but after ineffective play by Hogeboom, Landry handed the job back to Danny White. The Cowboys missed the playoffs in 1984, but returned in 1985 as Danny White was once again the opening day starter. Once again the Cowboys came up short in the playoffs as they lost to the Rams again.

In 1986 the Cowboys opened the season with a 6-2 record and had the best offense in the NFL with Danny White at quarterback. During an away game against the NY Giants, White was slammed to the ground by Giants linebacker Carl Banks and White broke his throwing wrist. The injury ended White’s season and the Cowboys ended the 1986 season with a 7-9 record, which was their first losing season since 1965.

Danny White would come back from his wrist injury in 1987, but would battle quarterback Steve Pelluer for the starting job throughout the season. The quarterback battle would continue into the 1988 season. The Cowboys missed the playoffs in both 1987 and 1988. When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989, the option on Danny White’s contract was not picked up and White decided to retire from the NFL.

Danny White ended his NFL career with 21,959 yards (3rd on Cowboys all-time list), 155 touchdowns (2nd on Cowboys all-time list) and 132 interceptions (also 2nd on Cowboys all-time list). His punting average with the Cowboys was 40.4 yards per punt. His record as the Cowboys quarterback was 62-32.

Danny White became the head coach of the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena League in 1992. He remained the head coach until 2004. While with the Rattlers he won the league championship twice in 1994 and 1997. He also led the Rattlers to three other championship games in 2002, 2003 and 2004 where he would lose. He was named coach of the year in 1993.

After leaving the Rattlers he became the head coach of the expansion Utah Blaze in 2006. He led the Blaze to the playoffs all three seasons he was with the team. White’s overall Arena League coaching record is 162-93, with a postseason record of 20-13. He was inducted into the Arena League Hall of Fame in 2002.

Danny White and his wife JoLynn have four children. They also have eight grandchildren.

Danny White deserves so much more credit then he gets for his career with the Dallas Cowboys. He was a leader for the team and made the team better when he was the starter. Following a legend like Roger Staubach must have been a hard thing for Danny White. Even coach Tom Landry once said…

“I don’t think anybody could have followed Roger and done as well as Danny”

After a game the field fills up with paparazzi and media snapping photos, video and begging for interviews. This new series of graphics, entitled Hot Flashes, reminds me of the rock star atmosphere that comes with being one of the biggest stars on the Dallas Cowboys.

It certainly is hard to believe the Dallas Cowboys have only been around for 50 years. When you think about it 50 years isn’t that long. Heck, it was enough time for our team to win five Super Bowls. It took the New Orleans Saints longer to get just one and the Pittsburgh Steelers 27 years longer to get six.

1960, the year our beloved Dallas Cowboys were born, was a very memorable year. The announcement that 3,500 troops would be sent to Vietnam was made in March of 1960. The great John F. Kennedy was elected president in November, and ironically later was assassinated in Dallas only three years later. The U.S. launched the very first weather satellite. Ben-Hur won a record breaking eleven Oscars.

In 50 short years the Cowboys have become the highest valued sports team with a worth of approximately $1.65 billion. They are also the wealthiest team earning $269 million a year, in great part of it’s enormous fan base spanning not only the United States but the entire world.

If that’s not a jaw dropper then Emmitt Smith isn’t a Hall of Famer. 😉

Here’s to another great 50 years of football to come, and as Tony Romo would say, “Enjoy the journey!”

Below is the graphic of the day, a nice schedule graphic – Cowboys celebrating 50 years.

http://lonestarstruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/art3.png180397Kelly Irvinhttp://lonestarstruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lonestarstruck.pngKelly Irvin2010-08-16 16:19:582010-08-16 16:19:58Hard To Believe It's Only Been 50 Years